Fundy Royal MP Alaina Lockhart is clarifying the new federal Liberal Bill C-71 is not reintroducing a gun registry.
She spoke in support of the many gun owning members of her largely rural riding in the House of Commons this past week.
Lockhart says a firearms advisory council supported stronger background checks, including of mental health history.
“Authorities determining eligibility would need to consider certain police reported information, including criminal and drug offences, a history of violent behaviour, and mental illness spanning a person’s life, rather than just the last five years,” says Lockhart.
She says currently, only licensed gun owners can buy weapons and ammunition, however, there’s no verification required.
While Lockhart says most gun retailers in Canada do monitor purchases, it’s not universal and C-71 proposes sellers must verify a licence every time.
“My constituents voiced concerns about the accessibility of the information gathered,” says Lockhart. “I’m pleased to see the bill requires law enforcement to have judicial authorization to obtain this information in the course of an investigation.”
Lockhart says we have to recognize there is a gun problem in Canada without imposing unreasonable restrictions on responsible firearms owners.
“I grew up in a time where the term lockdown didn’t exist, kids today can’t say that, they practice them all the time,” says Lockhart. “We really need to acknowledge that even in Atlantic Canada, 56% of violent gun crimes occur outside of cities.”
She also reported a 23% increase in firearm-related homicides in 2016 as compared to 2015, which is the highest rate since 2005.
In 2016, shootings were the most common method of committing murder in Canada, Lockhart said, exceeding stabbings for the first time since 2012.
Lockhart adds her advisory council believes in common sense firearms regulation that don’t impose unreasonable restrictions on law abiding gun owners.
